The UnWoke Show Season 3 Episode 121: “Beauty, Branding & Backlash: Inside the American Eagle ‘Genes’ Ad”
Description
When American Eagle launched its “Great Jeans” campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, it expected viral traction — just not like this. The internet exploded over what many saw as more than a fashion ad. From the ad’s “great genes” copy to its lack of diversity, critics called out undertones of racial bias, eugenics-era language, and exclusionary beauty ideals.
In this episode of The UnWoke Show, we unpack the viral controversy that’s pitting corporate marketing against Gen Z social scrutiny. Why did the phrase “great genes” cause such outrage? Is it a case of overreaction — or are brands still failing to read the cultural room?
We explore:
The double meaning behind “jeans” vs. “genes”
Why Sydney Sweeney became the center of the storm
The racial implications many say were impossible to ignore
The debate over beauty standards, identity politics, and cancel culture
What this says about woke capitalism, brand backlash, and cultural division in 2025
🔥 Buckle up for a no-holds-barred breakdown of how a denim ad turned into a culture war flashpoint.
Show Notes
https://apnews.com/article/american-eagle-sydney-sweeney-jeans-race-aace9c73a52e982a7e832ad5ac507290
https://people.com/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-ad-explained-11781702?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/07/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-ads/683704/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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Podcast links
https://theunwokeshow.podbean.com/
https://open.spotify.com/show/27rkGZYhccSF8stUzzGxaI
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unwoke-show/id1686015698
https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-unwoke-show-309196
https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnWokeShow/videos?app=desktop
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